Long ago, on the sacred mountain Kailash, Parvati Devi wished for a companion who would always stay by her side. From the turmeric paste she used for her bath, she gently shaped a boy and breathed life into him. This boy became her beloved son, Ganapati.
One day, when Lord Shiva returned home, Ganapati—unaware of who Shiva was—stood guard at his mother’s command and refused to let him enter. Shiva, surprised at this defiance, tried to explain, but the boy remained firm. Angered, Shiva’s attendants fought with the child, but Ganapati’s strength was unmatched. Finally, in the heat of the battle, Shiva severed his head.
When Parvati discovered this, her grief shook the heavens. To console her, Lord Vishnu advised that the first living being’s head, facing north, be brought to restore the boy’s life. Nandi and the divine beings found a young elephant, whose head was offered reverently. Shiva placed it upon the child, reviving him.
Thus was born Ganapati, the elephant-headed god—symbol of wisdom, remover of obstacles, and beloved of both gods and humans. Since then, devotees begin all their prayers and ventures by remembering him first, invoking his blessings for success and harmony.
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